Bench Pts

The short story: Senior JeQuan Lewis scored 23 points and handed out a career-high 12 assists, while classmate Jordan Burgess and freshman Samir Doughty hit critical 3-pointers down the stretch as VCU overcame a fast Princeton start on the way to its third straight win. With the victory, the Rams improved to 6-1, their best seven-game start since the 1993-94 season.

OPENING TIP

Lewis kept the Rams afloat with 19 points in the first half and then became a facilitator in the second with eight of his 12 assists after the break. He was 6-of-9 from the field and 3-of-4 from 3-point range in the game.

Burgess was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field on the way to 12 points and seven rebounds.

Mo Alie-Cox also added 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including several rim-rattling dunks, and tied a career-high with five blocks.

Princeton was led by Devin Cannady who had 18 points and Spencer Weisz who added 14 points.

VCU shot 56 percent from the field (30-of-54) and 37 percent from 3-point range (7-of-19).

The Rams outscored the Tigers 44-30 in the paint and forced 19 Tiger turnovers.

THE DIFFERENCE

Despite a big early deficit and a second half that featured eight ties and seven lead changes, VCU took control for good when Lewis picked up a loose ball and found Burgess in the left corner for a go-ahead three that gave the Rams a 67-64 lead with 4:25 left. Moments later, Doughty stepped up from atop the 3-point arc to bury just his third triple of the year to push VCU in front 70-64 with 3:32 left. It was VCU's largest lead of the game at the time.

VCU made crucial free throws down the stretch, and Burgess added an exclamation point with a dunk on a breakaway with 44 seconds remaining.

Princeton charged out of the gate with a 16-0 run over the first six minutes of the contest, but didn't waver, and began to slowly chip away.

The Rams responded with a quick 8-2 run aided by De'Riante Jenkins and Lewis, who hit 3-pointers, to cut the deficit to 18-10.

The two teams traded baskets until Lewis got VCU within 30-24 with 5:16 remaining in the half, blowing by several Princeton defenders for a layup.

The Rams made a big run to end the half as Jenkins and Alie-Cox ripped steals and threw down thunderous dunks on back-to-back plays. Lewis then hit a 3-pointer to cut it to 37-35 with 1:34 left in the half. An Alie-Cox dunk with 34 seconds left in the period capped a 12-2 VCU run and sent the teams into the locker room tied at 39-all.

The Rams took their first lead of the game, at 44-41 with 18:10 left, on a Doug Brooks 3-pointer.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Lewis topped double-digit assists for the third time in his career and reached the 20-point mark for the ninth time as a Ram.

Lewis is 18-of-32 from 3-point range in his last four games.

Doughty posted his fourth double-digit scoring game in seven contests this season.

VCU was playing without starting point guard Johnny Williams, who missed the game with an illness.

UP NEXT VCU head to Miami, where it will meet Illinois on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. at AmericanAirlines Arena.